The Fit MD

Lifestyle Changes May Aid Cognitive Abilities

Improvements in lifestyle risk factors for dementia can lead to short-term improvements in cognition among community-dwelling adults experiencing cognitive decline.

Medication Misuse: Growth Hormone for Athletic Performance and Anti-Aging

There has been a significant surge in the use of growth hormone to improve athletic ability and combat aging despite no clear supporting evidence.

Physical Activity Helps Avert Premature Mortality Worldwide

Physical activity prevalence has contributed to averting premature mortality on a global scale, with about 3.9 million premature deaths averted annually.

Yoga Cuts Testosterone in Women With Polycystic Ovary Syndrome

A mindful yoga intervention reduces testosterone levels in women with polycystic ovary syndrome.

Physical Activity Tied to Mental Well-Being in Menopause

Physical activity is linked to fewer depressive symptoms, higher satisfaction with life, and higher positive affectivity in menopausal women.

Middle-Age Lifestyle Changes Can Cut Women’s Stroke Risk

Even in middle age, women can make lifestyle modifications that can substantially lower their stroke risk.

Beneficial Effects of Most Popular Diets Diminish After 12 Months

Popular diet programs are associated with improvements in weight and blood pressure, but their beneficial effects generally disappear after 12 months.

More Steps in a Day Tied to Lower Risk for Death

A greater number of daily steps — 8,000 or more — is associated with a significantly lower risk for all-cause mortality.

DASH Diet Shown to Promote Balanced Body Composition

As individuals age, maintaining muscle mass is an important part of mitigating the risk of injuries affecting independence.

Psoriasiform Dermatitis Associated With Western Diet

A Western diet can, in as little as 4 weeks, result in clinically and molecularly significant proinflammatory changes in the skin, underscoring the relationship between dietary components and skin disease.

Moderate Physical Exercise Improves Mental Health, but Overexercise May Worsen It

Physical exercise 3 to 5 times per week improves self-reported mental health, whereas exercising for 90 minutes to 3 hours may worsen mental health burden.

Regular Exercise Tied to Better Quality of Life in Cancer Survivors

Despite benefits in quality of life, fewer than one in four African-American cancer survivors report meeting recommended levels of weekly physical activity.

The Biggest Diet Trend of 2020 Is Not a Diet

Since its inception, the practice of intermittent fasting has been linked to such benefits as increased lifespan, mitigation of chronic disease risk, and improvements in physical performance.

Survey: Most Americans Think of Themselves as Healthy

Seven out of 10 Americans rate their health-related behaviors and attitudes as good or excellent, according to a survey released by the American Osteopathic Association.

Greater Cardiorespiratory Fitness Linked to Increased Gray Matter Volume in the General Population

A higher level of cardiorespiratory fitness is associated with greater gray matter volume in the temporal, frontal, and cerebellar regions of the brain.

Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplements May Benefit Testicular Function in Young Men

Does the consumption of omega-3 fatty acid-containing supplements benefit testicular function in young men?

Training for, Running First Marathon May Reduce Aortic Age

Researchers assessed 138 untrained healthy individuals before marathon training and two weeks after the marathon for central (aortic) blood pressure and aortic stiffness using cardiovascular magnetic resonance distensibility.

Moderate Exercise Associated With Improved Glucose Regulation in Older Men

Habitual physical activity, such as walking or gardening, may decrease fasting GLP-1 concentrations and increase glucose-stimulated GLP-1 responses independent of insulin sensitivity.

Men Who Are Overweight, Obese Benefit From Exercise Before Breakfast

Timing of exercise and the consumption of mixed-macronutrient breakfast or carbohydrates may have acute and chronic effects on metabolic processes for men who are overweight or obese.

Most Teens Worldwide Are Not Exercising Enough

The majority of adolescents worldwide do not meet current physical activity guidelines.